Frequently Asked Questions

Your Physiotherapist will carry out a comprehensive assessment which will involve asking you questions about your condition followed by a physical examination. This information will be used to decide on the best course of treatment for your condition.

Treatment may involve a combination of advice, exercise, manual techniques, posture correction, Acupuncture, electrotherapy treatments or Hydrotherapy. The best course of treatment will be discussed with you by your Physiotherapist. Together you will set goals of what you aim to achieve from your treatment.

Physiotherapy can be helpful in the management of conditions involving joints, nerves and soft tissue. This includes back and neck problems, injuries of joints such as shoulders, hips or knees, soft tissue injuries including ligament sprains and muscle strains/tears, arthritic and post operative conditions or following broken bones. Physiotherapy uses evidence based treatments and follows best practice.

Full directions to, and parking arrangements for each of the Outpatient MSK Physiotherapy departments can be found in the How to Find Us section of this website.

If you require an Ambulance please discuss this at the time of making your Physiotherapy appointment. There are set criteria for use of an Ambulance for hospital appointments and this can be discussed with our receptionist. If appropriate our receptionist will be able to book this for you while you are on the phone.

Your Physiotherapist will need to be able to see the area of your body where you have a problem. Please ensure you wear clothing that is suitable. If you have a leg problem it will be helpful for you to bring a pair of shorts or wear loose clothing. If you have a neck or shoulder problem ladies may wish to wear a vest type top.

Please ensure that you complete your patient questionnaire, including a list of any medication you are taking, and bring it with you to your initial appointment. If you use reading glasses please bring them with you.

On arriving at the Physiotherapy Department please report to reception / a member of staff.

Your Physiotherapist will introduce themselves to you before asking you a series of questions. These questions are vital to enable your Physiotherapist to fully understand any problems you have.

Following this they will carry out a physical examination. The findings of this examination will be discussed with you and together a treatment plan and treatment goals will be set.

• Initial appointments are normally up to 30 – 45 minutes long.
• Follow-up appointments are normally up to 30 minutes long.
• Group sessions can be up to an hour long depending on the class.

Depending on what your problem is you will either be seen on a one-to-one basis or as part of a group. One-to-one sessions are normally in a curtained cubicle.

As part of your treatment you may progress to the gym on either a one-to-one or group basis. Group sessions are normally in a gym setting.

The number of treatment sessions required will depend on your presenting condition. Some conditions will only require a single assessment session, after which you will be given some condition management advice and discharged.

Other conditions will require an assessment and then subsequent treatment sessions. The number of sessions you are likely to require will be discussed at your initial appointment.

It is vital that you contact the department as soon as you are aware that you are unable to attend your appointment. Contact numbers for each department can be found on our How to Find Us page. By giving us as much notice as possible that you are unable to attend your appointment allows us to offer this appointment to another patient which will help us keep the waiting list for Physiotherapy as short as possible.

It is vital that you do not miss an appointment without letting the Department know in advance. Missed appointments result in longer waiting times for other patients and can result in you being discharged from Physiotherapy. Further information on our MSK Physiotherapy Patient Attendance Protocol can be found in our Useful Resources section.

There are a number of factors that can help you to ensure that you achieve the best possible outcome from your Physiotherapy. These include following the advice of your Physiotherapist, being consistent with your home exercise programme and attending all your appointments. Additionally addressing aspects of your general health are important in helping you achieve optimal physical function.

Try to achieve your ideal weight, take part in regular appropriate exercise, whilst also avoiding excessive stress and stopping smoking.

Advice on addressing these factors is available from your Physiotherapist and from our Useful Resources section.

Physiotherapists do not perform investigations. These are usually performed by the Radiology department.

The University Health Board supports the training of undergraduate & postgraduate students and it is possible that students will be present at your consultation.

All work completed by students within the department is supervised by a qualified member of staff. If you do not wish to be seen by a student or have any other questions, please inform the clinic staff.

We strive to keep your wait for Physiotherapy as short as possible. The length of wait will depend on your presenting condition which will have been described on your referral form from your GP.

If you contact your local Physiotherapy Department they will be able to give you an indication of the length of time you are likely to have to wait for your Physiotherapy appointment.

Yes. If your solicitor requires the notes for ongoing litigation then they will normally contact us directly requesting them. We will release a copy of the notes to them once we have received both a signed consent form from you and the payment of an administration fee. If you require the notes yourself then please discuss this with a member of staff.